Belton Joins Complete Streets Movement

A desire to make its streets more accessible, promoting safety and a healthy lifestyle, led Belton, Mo. to become to 10th local government in the Kansas City metro area to pass a Complete Streets Policy in January.

KC Healthy Kids, a non-profit organization committed to reducing childhood obesity, worked with a number of groups in Belton to help get the policy passed. KCHK has been extremely involved in advocating for governments in the metro area to pass complete street policies.

Complete Streets is a term used to describe streets which are designed to move people of various ages and abilities along and across the streets, including bikers, walkers, individuals who use wheelchairs, and people who use public transportation.

Research has shown that people who live in more walkable neighborhoods are much less likely to be obese and children and teenagers are more likely to be physically active when their neighborhoods have features like sidewalks, bike paths and safe intersections.

Belton, a town of 23,000-plus just south of Kansas City has joined a growing movement of communities looking to make their neighborhoods more accommodating to walkers, bikers and residents of all ages and physical abilities.

Providing safe, accessible routes to schools, parks and businesses encourages individuals to be more active. Well-designed paths provide opportunities for bikers, walkers and runners to get out and enjoy active recreation in a safe environment.

While these paths may provide the exercise environment needed, the paths can also lead to more exercise options, such as a park or recreation area. Making easier access to a park, field or recreation area, creates more opportunities for activity.

In addition, bikable or walkable routes to school and work encourage residents to choose those options instead of driving.

All of this activity can help in the fight against obesity and give people the opportunity for longer, healthier lives.

Mike Schweder is a resident and business owner in Blue Springs, Mo., a city, which passed a Complete Streets resolution late in 2011. He was part of a team effort to pass the resolution. Schweder has noticed the difference accessible sidewalks contribute to the community. He said a sidewalk was put in near his home and the changes of behavior are very evident.

"Before they put in the sidewalk you never saw anyone and now it is a flurry of activity," he said. "It really opens up the community and gives people opportunities to walk and go places they never went before. This is great for not only promoting good health among the residents, but will attract shoppers and new business to our city."

Schweder said having sidewalks to parks and schools creates more community. "People walk to the park and it becomes very active," he said. "It livens up the community and links people from different areas."
Providing a safe path, which allows kids to walk to school instead of riding a bus, benefits their health. The ability to get to recreational areas also increases the opportunity for citizens to become more active and healthier.

Kansas City area governments which have passed complete streets resolutions include Belton, Blue Springs, Independence, Grandview, Kansas City and Lee's Summit on the Missouri side and Johnson County, Leawood, Roeland Park and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County on the Kansas Side of the metro area. In addition, the State of Missouri has passed a complete streets resolution.